Earth's Climate in Time: Milankovitch Cycles and the Role of the Moon on Earth's Axial Tilt via Numerical Orbit Integrations

Periodic changes in the flux of solar radiation that Earth receives and climate patterns are caused by Milankovitch cycles. These are variations in Earth's orbit and axial tilt that affect the planet's long-term climate. The Moon's function in maintaining Earth's axial tilt and preventing chaotic variations that could compromise habitability is another important component of climate stability.This research uses MERCURY6 to perform numerical simulations in order to examine these consequences. Time-series plots of key Keplerian elements will be produced via long-term integrations (20 million years) that monitor Earth's orbital development under planetary disturbances. Furthermore, in order to replicate findings from a 2012 study, simulations will evaluate how Earth's axial tilt changes with and without the Moon. The research intends to examine astronomical factors influencing Earth's temperature and the stabilizing effect of the Moon on planetary habitability by examining these dynamics. This work received funding from Instrument Center for Danish Astrophysics https://phys.au.dk/ida/